Banners

The purpose of this community event has been to raise funds to assist in the riverfront aesthetics in both Sterling & Rock Falls. As progress continues by both Cities along their river fronts, our efforts have turned toward the bridge which brings our two towns together. In partnership with the Woodlawn Arts Academy beginning in 2015, we have purchased and installed decorative banners, annually, which line the 1st Avenue Bridge and feature the works of area student artists.

STERLING – You’re Late, a carved stained pine piece by Gracie Young, a Gragert Designs student and ninth grader at Rock Falls Township High School, was the first-place winner in the grades 9-12 category of Woodlawn Arts Academy’s 2016 Student-Teacher Art Exhibit. Community members were invited to view the artwork and vote on their favorite pieces during the first two weeks of the exhibit. First place in the grades 5-8 category went to Shoe Story, a piece made of paint, paper and shoelaces on canvas, by Brittney Shipman, eighth grader at Rock Falls Middle School. Brady Wolber, fourth grader at Centennial Elementary School, Polo, won first place in the K-4 category with a mixed media piece, Wise Owl.

Each of the winners of the art exhibit received a gift certificate from Woodlawn Arts Academy, an agency of United Way of Whiteside County. Photographs of each of the top
12 art pieces are featured in the Academy’s Summer Program Guide. Through a partnership with Bridge the Community, several of the winning pieces will again be featured as banners along the First Avenue Bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls. The banners will be revealed at 8:30am September 10th along Second Street in Rock Falls before the Bridge the Community 5K/10K.